Roman Britain in 1979

Abstract

Bryn-y-Castell hillfort, Ffestiniog, (SH 728429): the defences survive as a drystone wall, generally 1-5 m wide and up to c. 1 m high, enclosing an area of c. 40 by 25 m. Excavation concentrated on the entrance, (which was a simple gap 1 m wide), a smelting hearth, and on an oval stone structure measuring 7 by 5 m just inside the entrance. Secure dating evidence is awaited, but glass bangles similar to those from Traprain Law may point to occupation in the Roman period. 4 (2) Tomen-y-Mur (SH 706386): further details of the leat-system to the northeast of the fort have been identified, 5 including a possible rectangular tank. 6 MONTGOMERYSHIRE [POWYS] Arddleen (SJ 260159): excavation in advance of road-work recovered Roman pottery and burnt organic material from the inner ditch of a double-ditched enclosure, one of many located by aerial photography in this area. 7 RADNORSHIRE [POWYS] Maes-Treylow farm, Discoed (SO 268653): a trial-trench across the eastern 'bank and ditch' of the supposed fort 8 located no Roman features. Re-examination of aerial photographs suggests that the earthwork belongs rather to a system of field banks, probably of mediaeval or later date. 9 CARMARTHENSHIRE [DYFED] Llandeilo (SN 633222): aerial survey located a possible fort lying on the valley floor. Cropmarks show two sides of a rectangular enclosure measuring at least 200 by 180 m with rounded corners. A linear mark across the centre, parallel with the longer side, is the only internal feature. 10 GLAMORGAN (1) Cold Knap, Barry (ST 0993 6648) [s. GLAMORGAN]: trial-excavation failed to locate further evidence for the supposed mortuary enclosure. 11 (2) Biglis (ST 1420 6940), Cadoxton [s. GLAMORGAN]: a farmstead was totally excavated, prior to construction of the Barry Docks Link Road, (a) The earliest, apparently unenclosed, settlement was represented by pits, two circular corn-driers and a round hut 7 m in diameter. The presence of 'Glastonbury' ware suggests that occupation began in the second century B.C. (b) In the second phase an area of c. 1400 m 2 was enclosed by a double palisade, against which, on the inside, small stock-pens were built, (c) In the third century the palisade was replaced by a clay-and-rubble bank. An entrance on the east side was originally c. 6 m wide, but was later reduced to c. 3-5 m. The southern terminal of the bank was revetted by a drystone wall 1-5 m wide. The metalled roadway extended into the interior to form a hardstanding, upon which stood two stone plinths probably supporting water-cisterns. Dwarf stone walls, 4 Excavation by the Snowdonia National Park Study Centre was directed by Mr P. Crew, who kindly sent information.

A Chi-Rho Graffito from Brandon House, Southwark

“…9 RIB 2.8.2503.132-6. 10 For example, Wilson et al 1975;Grew et al 1980;Frere et al 1983. 11 Adam Corsini (pers.…”